It is often said that because of their geographical location Torquay United often find it hard to attract players, but when they do persuade them to sign many of them never want to leave which proved to be the case with Dougie Clarke.
Bolton-born Clarke had spent his entire career in the North of England with spells at Darwen, Bury and ten years with Hull City before Frank O'Farrell enticed him to South Devon in 1965.
A vastly experienced winger, he had made 411 league and cup appearances for the Tigers and made a goal scoring debut in a 3-1 win against a West Ham United in November 1955 that included O'Farrell and his future Plainmoor colleague, the late John Bond.
The capture of Clarke proved to be a shrewd move by the Irishman - who displayed the three characteristics which former chairman Tony Boyce stated every United manager should possess, namely contacts, contacts and contacts - as United won promotion from the Fourth Division in Clarke's first season in the 1965-66 campaign. As well as their elevation to the third tier of English football being Torquay's second promotion since their election to the Football League in 1927, it was also the second promotion of Clarke's career as he had helped Hull win promotion from the 'old' Division Three - League One in new money - as runners-up in the 1958-59 season.
Following on from their promotion success, Clarke remained a key figure for United as they soon established themselves as a force in Division Three, and he was also part of the Torquay side that appeared on Match of the Day for the first time ever in March 1968 against his old club Bury, which United won 3-0.
The 1967-68 campaign proved to be Clarke's final season at Plainmoor as he was released by O'Farrell, after making 131 appearances in all competitions and scored 21 goals, and dropped into non-league football with Bath City.
He remained in Torquay following his retirement from playing, working as a carpet fitter. His son Stuart also had a brief spell with the Gulls in the late 1970s.
His achievements ensured that his status as a Gulls legend was secure in retirement, and he was amongst many former players who attended a legends evening held at Plainmoor by the Torquay United Supporters' Trust last October as part of a line-up that included his former teammate Robin Stubbs, Colin Lee, Paul Compton, Russell Musker, Tom Kelly, John Uzzell, Alex Watson and Kevin Hill.
